But while the two-hour premiere scored well drawing in
1.9 million adults in the highly-attractive to advertisers 18-49 age
demographic, and and 2.5 million in TNT's favorable adults 25-54, in
comparison to the final episode of the orginal Dallas, it was a drop of nearly 80 percent.

The 1991 series finale of the original show, which aired for 13 seasons drew 33.3 million viewers.

But the 1980 'Who Shot J.R.?' episode is the second-highest-rated entertainment broadcast in U.S. history with
41.5 million viewers.

The 1983 series finale of CBS' M*A*S*H is the all-time leader with 50.2 million.

Infirm: The reboot of the hit 1980s soap opera opened with JR unresponsive in a nursing home

Head to head: Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) argue over John Ross's plans to drill at Southfork ranch

Back on the ranch: The Ewings play nice over dinner, despite the amount of family backstabbing going on behind the scenes

In the opening scenes of the
highly anticipated first episode Changing of the Guard - the first in a
series of ten after a 21 year hiatus of the hugely popular soap - John
Ross is caught secretly drilling in the grounds after discovering
billions of dollars of untapped crude under the surface.

But he is caught out by furious Bobby, who has long since turned his back on the business.

With
the passing of the years, the Ewing family has grown even further apart
with Bobby and his adopted son Christopher growing concerned about the
environmental impact of oil, while JR Jnr follows in his father's
footsteps craving money and success.

Brotherly love: The relationship between Christopher and John Ross is already fraught

Guest of honour: The premiere episode of the show also saw the reappearance of Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton)

While Bobby is battling his nephew in
the courts, he is also diagnosed with deadly stomach cancer that needs
urgent treatment and is doing his best to keep his illness secret
despite his obvious pain.

He
tells his doctors he has 'family business to deal with first' and
refuses to spoil Christopher's wedding. His worried wife discovers his
medication and suspects the worse, breaking down in tears.

Brief encounter: The meeting between JR and Sue Ellen brought back all the old Dallas chemistry

DALLAS - WHAT THE CRITICS SAID:

'No
one expects Dallas to have the kind of reach now that it had three
decades ago. But between old fans who will enjoy a revisit and young
folks who never even heard of Miss Ellie, TNT is placing a sound bet.'New York Daily News

The
show's predictably melodramatic rhythms and telegraphed twists will be
like nectar to those still pining for this old-school style of
skullduggery.'Seattle Post

'The
writing is not there. Neither is the acting. And the plot – well, it’s
not like that was a strong point of the original version anyway. But
none of the elements is present, just soap bubbles and silliness. This
is a remake that should never have been remade.'Hollywood Reporter

'TNT'S
version, which focuses on JR, Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing, along with he
next generation, is very much the heir of the CBS original, in spirit
and execution.'Los Angeles Times

'Resist
if you want to, but whether you were a fan of the original series, or
still in utero when it went off the air in 1991, TNT's Dallas will wear
you down and pull you in with its mix of sex, intrigue, backstabbing,
dirty dealing, blackmail and family secrets.'San Francisco Chronicle

As
family gather at the ranch to see environmentalist Christopher and
Rebecca take their vows, the arrangement to sell the property hangs in
the balance as JR Jnr tries his best to scupper plans with a giant
conservation group.

Meanwhile
JR's former wife Sue Ellen, who fought a battle with alcoholism, has
seemingly turned her life around and is forging out a career in
politics.

Seems she has learned a thing or two from her days as a Ewing however and makes it clear she is very much on her son's side.

It
wouldn't be Dallas without a bit of romantic drama and minutes before
the ceremony is due to begin it emerges, the groom's ex girlfriend still
has strong feelings for him which appear to be mutual.

If double crossing JR jnr thinks he can get one over the old man, he needs to think again.

Even
from his nursing home, JR is sharp as a tack learning that his only son
is trying to take Southfork back for himself, cutting him out of the
deal.

And the Ewing elder
statesman puts on a spectacular show over dinner with Bobby when he
earnestly thanks his brother for taking care of him when he was in his
state of depression - all the while stabbing him in the back over the
family ranch.

A showdown between newly wed
Christopher and his bad boy cousin reveals cracks in his marriage
already with ex girlfriend Elena making her presence known.

Meanwhile Bobby finally comes clean to his wife about his cancer diagnosis but vows to fight the disease.

Dallas is on cable channel TNT

Back at the ranch: Fans of the original series will remember the iconic Southfork Ranch